diff --git a/boards/reel/Makefile.dep b/boards/reel/Makefile.dep
index 7785606542..616c91894e 100644
--- a/boards/reel/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/reel/Makefile.dep
@@ -3,4 +3,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += mma8x5x
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+  ifeq (,$(filter nrfmin,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += nrf802154
+  endif
+endif
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.dep